Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/398

 318 THE HISTOKY OF BAEErNGTON. May, 1776, and the "score" which undoubtedly he settled " without higgling," illustrates the customs of the times as well as conveys a perfect idea of the expense of putting up at one of the old Colonial Inns for a day or so : s. d. " To I Dinnner 9d To Bread and cheese 6d . . .13 To 2 mugs cyder i i-2d To i gill W. Rum 4d . . 5 1-2 To Breakfast <& dinner is 3d To one bowl Toddj gd . 2 To lodging you and wife ...... 6 To I 1-2 bowl toddy is i 1-2 To 1-2 mug cyder i i-2d 13 To lodge self & wife 6d To i gil Brandy 51-2 . 11 1-3 To breakfast 9 i-2d mug cyder i 1-2 . . . . 11 To 1-2 bowl toddy 41-2 Dinner 8d . . . .101-2 To 15 lbs Tobacco at 6d 76 To 1-4 bowl Toddj' 4 i-2d To 1-2 mug cyder i 1-2 6 To supper ......... 6" In the family record which goodman Bowen caused to be spread upon the town books it is stated that his " fifth child was buried near his mother, who died October 30, 1778." On this old day book there is written, under this date : By I coffin, I2s" Every other word on the page on which this is written is in the familiar handwriting of Henry Bowen. This was written by another hand. It was a sad day for the taverner, for death had entered the inn, an unwelcome guest, and departing, had taken away its mistress. He remained a widower for seven months, and then, as the record says, "married his second wife, Elizabeth Harding, May 2, 1779," and Elizabeth took the place made vacant, to "welcome the coming and speed the parting guest." For nearly fifteen years Bowen conducted the tavern and store at Barrington, but in the latter part of the year 1783 he sold out a good part of his belongings at " Vandoo," gave up the inn and all the ofifices to which he had held so tena- ciously, and removed to Providence, where he embarked in business on a more elaborate scale. The Bowen tavern had as later landlords John W. Bick-
 * ' William Kelley, Cr.